Representative Terry Morrow announces that Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Commissioner Thomas Sorel has agreed to visit Winthrop, Minnesota to discuss freight rail, the Minnesota Prairie Line, and MnDOT’s transportation planning process.

Friday, April 17
1:30-3:30 p.m.
Winthrop Veteran’s Club
206 N. Main Street
Winthrop, MN

Representative Morrow worked with the Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Coalition and its chair, Rob Edwards, to set up the public meeting. The Minnesota Prairie Line (MPL) goes through five counties– Carver, Sibley, Renville, Redwood, and Yellow Medicine—along the 93.4 mile short line MPL. The MPL runs within one block of the Winthrop Veteran’s Club.

Working with the rail coalition has demonstrated that public and private individuals and groups can come together to rebuild our rails and build our economy. Commissioner Sorel’s visit is an exciting opportunity to hear about his vision for Minnesota’s transportation system and for our area to share our vision for the Minnesota Prairie Line.

The Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority received $3 million in the 2008 state bonding bill to replace rail and other improvements along the MPL. This year, the Minnesota House and Senate bonding committees heard bills from Representative Morrow and Senator Kathy Sheran to continue the improvements. The Minnesota House and Senate both include $5 million of bonding support in their Capital Investments (bonding) bills.

Freight rail encourages job growth as it reduces shipping costs. We have seen the fruit of our efforts as businesses such as Winfield Solutions are choosing to build their businesses along freight rail like the Minnesota Prairie Line. Commissioner Sorel’s leadership at MnDOT offers exciting confirmation that MnDOT includes freight rail in its plans for helping Minnesota create jobs.”

Representative Morrow is a member of the House Transportation Finance Committee and the House Transportation Policy and Oversight Committee. He serves on the MnDOT State Rail Plan policy committee, which will participate in creating Minnesota’s state rail plan by the end of 2009. More about the state rail plan process can be found at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/railplan/